The Dark Knight Rises, Falls, Rises Again...and Falls Again (sorta)

How does he get the gasoline to make shapes like that?

Yeah so I just got out of an early screening of The Dark Knight Rises (TDKR) and have had a couple of hours to process it. I have an opinion and I do intend to share it. Are you ready? I have to say that I did enjoy it. Again, I am a nerd of the highest order of comic geeks and whenever a new film about a superhero is committed to celluloid, I must view it. TDKR  is no different and when I look at the film overall, I have to say it was quite good, bordering on great. The acting was excellent, the cinematography to die for, the soundtrack amazing, and the lighting was fantastic. It's a very well made film and that's easy to see.

That having been said, you may be asking yourself why I don't feel this film is better than simply "good." Well, as good as the performances are, the film seems like it's trying hard not to be The Dark Knight. Perhaps this was out of respect for Heath Ledger or maybe it was just shooting higher because it's (at this time) the last film in the Nolan/Bale Batman series. I mean, you know that we will see the character rebooted again (probably soon) but this is the end of an era. The man who resurrected the franchise that imploded in the 90's is walking away and taking the cast with him.

Okay, let me try to be more clear. This film follows the formula of its predecessors: evil badguy is trying to destroy Gotham City. He has a plan to somehow do that. Batman suits up, battles evil badguy and saves the day. The end.

I bet Bane drinks this.

This film is no different, except that the villain is bigger, stronger, and has much larger aspirations than any that has come before him. He has more than thugs and hired goons, he has an army of followers ready to die for him. He has resources and cunning and muscles that ripple in high definition. Bane is a villain for the 21st Century - better, faster, meaner. Evil-er. He's like f Ra's Al Ghul and The Joker had a baby, pumped it full of steroids and made it read The Art of War. It's just the same thing we've already seen done TO THE EXTREME.

Another thing that bugged me was the lack of Batman in this Batman movie. I mean, his name is in the title and Bale has very little screen time in the suit. I understand why Nolan did this, but come on...this is the third film. We should see a lot of the Caped Crusader instead of being "treated" to a glimpse here and there.

The cast is quite good and I have no real complaints to speak of. The usual suspects are back and doing their thing. Bale is fine as Batman, Michael Kane is awesome as Alfred, Gary Oldman is rocking Comissioner Gordon, and Morgan Freeman nails it as Lucius Fox. They have all found a great respect for their characters and it shows in this third installment.

As for the newbies, Tom Hardy is okay as a faceless Bane but his voice sounds like a badly dubbed tin can effect. On a side note, I am the first to complain when a superhero takes his mask off constantly in a film *coughSPIDERMANcough* but the fact that we NEVER get to see Bane's face in this film actually hurts his character because we don't get anything but muscles and mumbles. Maybe I was wrong to criticize...

...nah...

Sorry Halle Berry but Anne nailed it!

Anywhoo, we have Anne Hathaway as a subdued and supercool Selena Kyle. I don't call her Catwoman because the film doesn't call her Catwoman, and that works. She's excellent in the role, so all the naysayers can relax, she handled it well and you will not be disappointed. Another new cast member is Joseph Gordon Levitt as a young cop trying to make a difference in the nasty world of Gotham City. He's nothing short of amazing in the role and it makes me wish that Nolan would agree to do one more just so we can see this character develop more.

By the way, be on the lookout for a couple of really cool cameos and the long awaited return of Matthew Modine as a high ranking police officer! Where has has he been for the last 20 years? He must have been hanging out with C. Thomas Howell and they both scored small roles in big budget superhero flicks. Cheers, guys!

Bottom line for me, I think it was a good movie. I enjoyed it. I think most people will as well. I just couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be...maybe I am just all done with the uberdark superhero movie. Maybe  that's why Avengers was so epic for me - it wasn't trying to be all dirty and gritty. It was colorful and fun and edge of your seat awesome. TDKR was just covered in pessimism, despite an honest attempt to force the theme of "hope" down our throats. I walked out satisfied but not astounded. That's all well and good but I wanted to be astounded and when I wasn't, well, you know.

That's my 2 cents. Feel free to comment or not. If you got this far, thanks for reading.

NOTE: Before the film started, the theater quite respectfully called for a moment of silence for the victims of the Aurora, CO, shooting. My heart goes out to all the victims, their families, and anyone impacted by that terrible event. I know a lot of people have said this, but I am going to say it too - there is a lot of gun play in this film and every time I saw a scene where shooting was taking place, my mind went there. Yours will too, so if you intend to see the film, it's important to be aware of this. I just hope that those most affected by this event may someday find both justice and peace.